Politician on maternity leave accuses British government of cheating her

London (CNN)A British lawmaker on maternity leave has accused Theresa May’s government of “cheating” after it broke an agreement that cancels out the votes of politicians who are unavoidably absent from parliament. Jo Swinson, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat party, believed she did not need to be present for a key Brexit vote on Tuesday because a member of May’s Conservative party had agreed not to cast an opposing ballot. But the Conservative MP in question, party chairman Brandon Lewis, voted in support of the government, contributing to a narrow, six-vote win for May’s beleaguered administration. Swinson said Lewis had broken a longstanding arrangement that allows British lawmakers who are absent from parliament to be “paired” with opposing MPs who agree not to vote, thereby balancing out the tally. Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May survives crucial Brexit vote Wrtining on Twitter Swinson described the move as “desperate stuff” and said the government “broke an agreement” that benefited pregnant women and new mothers in parliament. Read More “Just how low will your govt stoop @theresa_may?” she wrote. “This is calculated, deliberate breaking of trust by govt whips… to win at all costs,” she added. “There’s a word for it — cheating.” Lewis apologized on Twitter, describing the incident as “an honest mistake” made by party administrators “in fast-moving circumstances.” “I know how important the pair is to everyone, especially new parents, and I apologise,” he wrote. I’m sorry Jo. I think it was an honest mistake made by the… [Read full story]